Page 78 of Between the Lines

The more I talk the more I hate myself. It’s the truth, but fuck, it’s not the whole truth.

“So that’s it, that’s all I am to you?” She snorts, taking a hard step away from me. “I’ve let you into the messiest parts of my life, and you just keep putting up this wall.”

Tears well in her eyes, and my heart cracks right in my chest.

“It’s complicated,” I respond, like a complete coward.

But is it?

Is it complicated, or is she right—am I afraid of what everyone will think?

It doesn’t matter because Fia stares up at the starry sky, blinking away the tears. “Got it. Thanks for the night,” she adds dryly.

She turns and begins down the stone path towards the guesthouse. Each click of her heel growing further away.

Pressure builds in my chest until I can’t breathe, a crushing weight on me . . . Seeing her walk away from me is like seeing everything I care about slipping from my fingers.

Fuck the rules.

I need her.

In a blur, my feet race across the driveway and stone, straight towards Fia. She spins around as I crash into her, gripping her waist, holding her to me. Pink lips part and her eyes search my face, but I can’t think, I can’t breathe, not until I know. So with hands splayed against the width of her back, I tilt her back, off balance. Fia rests all her weight into my arms—trusting me. My breath hitches in my throat as we lock eyes, time stretching thin between us.

Fia waits for me to make the next move, to seal our fate.

“Caden—” she says, but I cut her off.

“You are worth every risk,” I say slowly, cupping her jaw.

Then I press my lips into hers.

Her body stills for a moment before her hands find the back of my neck and she melts in my grip, running her fingers up through my hair, sucking my lip between her own.

Fia pulls back, brows narrowed. “Are you sure about this?”

I stare at her, pausing to settle into the reality of this moment.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you for far longer than I care to admit,” I reply, still catching my breath.

Fia smiles at me, and our lips brush teasingly against each other.

“Then don’t stop now,” she whispers.

32

Fia

The awards ceremony was over in the blink of an eye.

But now everything has slowed down, like I’m walking through a cloud. Like I can feel every single heartbeat in my chest.

With my feet planted firmly on the wood floors of his living room, all I can focus on is the feeling of Caden’s body pressed against mine.

My mind hasn’t stopped racing since we got in that car tonight, because it scares me how badly I want him.

The lights in the house remain off as his hand snakes through the thin straps holding my dress up. I don’t fix the neckline when it falls, my lacy black bra peeping out.

Caden walks me back until I’m against the back of the sofa, his thumb swipes under my chin, lips sucking on the sensitive skin of my neck.